“He’s Going To Be Used Correctly”
September 4th, 2020
The Bucs signing bruising running back Leonard Fournette is about a lot more than just running the football, explained a couple of former NFL players.
Yeah, Fournette is a punishing and versatile force who can take it to the house, move a pile or catch a ball. Hallelujah!
However, former NFL quarterback Jordan Palmer turned high-profile QB guru (who is probably the best darn analyst you’re not listening to) was adamant yesterday that the Fournette signing already has changed the Tampa Bay offense — and more importantly, how defenses will play the Bucs.
Palmer told his SiriusXM NFL Radio audience that Fournette likely chose the Bucs because “he’s going to be used correctly,” rather than as the workhorse he was last season.
And a massive Fournette influence will come when the Bucs don’t give him the ball, Palmer asserted, because Fournette will command the attention from defenses that Ronald Jones does not, and that will lead to more favorable coverage situations and Tom Brady is the best QB when it comes to exploiting a matchup.
Co-host and former NFL safety Solomon Wilcots noted that finally the Bucs have what they haven’t had in years.
“If they have to roll up the sleeves one weak and pound the running game, and just like, ‘Hey, we’re going to eat clock and dominate and be more physical than the opponent,” now they can do it with Fournette and the addition of Rob Gronkowski, Wilcots said.
“Fournette’s going to have more creases and Brady’s going to have more single coverage,” Palmer said, calling it a constant win-win when the duo is on the field.
Joe is just fired up that Fournette is here. Finally, the Bucs have a significant collection of running backs talent.
Also, Joe likes that Fournette saw the Saints defense last year. It can only help him as he rushes to get up to speed with the Bucs offense. Against New Orleans, he caught 6-of-6 targets for 46 yards, and 72 yards on 20 carries.
That was more than half his team’s production in a 13-6 loss, a great example of how much a defense keyed in on Fournette.
September 4th, 2020 at 5:49 pm
only thing we have to worry about is “health”….
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 4th, 2020 at 5:52 pm
Like those referenced stats against the Saints stacked box Joe! Really excited about this signing more and more, especially on 3rd down pass protection as a huge added asset. 25 and looking for a payday
September 4th, 2020 at 5:53 pm
I mentioned the PA game opening up with Fournette on another Bucs publication that painted a very negative look on the Fournette signing.
He’s going to make the defense respect the run and come in the box. They can’t cheat to help out with TEs and WRs with Fournette in the back field.
September 4th, 2020 at 5:54 pm
Pablo thinks he will be the starter by week 6 the latest… If Ronald Jones doesn’t do anything the first couple weeks we are going to hand the keys to Shady
September 4th, 2020 at 5:55 pm
813, absolutely correct. If we remain relatively healthy we can compete with anyone and everyone.
September 4th, 2020 at 5:56 pm
I just wonder what’s going on with Fournette and the Bucs making it official. It’s still not done till it’s announced with a contract signing. I’m guessing they’re trying to work out the incentives on his contract and clear some cap room.
September 4th, 2020 at 5:57 pm
Can Prince Amukamara play anymore?
September 4th, 2020 at 6:00 pm
Rotating our RBs will drive defenses crazy…..all three can do different things with the ball….
I like the power of Fournette for much needed 3rd & 2 situations…..
September 4th, 2020 at 6:00 pm
Can’t wait for THIS SEASON to start. GO BUCS!
September 4th, 2020 at 6:09 pm
“I just wonder what’s going on with Fournette and the Bucs making it official”
He has to pass his physical, which in today’s NFL, includes three straight days of Covid testing…
September 4th, 2020 at 6:15 pm
Would have loved to see Fournette start ahead of ROJO in the Saints game. Maybe the Bucs will use him in the second half to pound the defense when they are worn out.
September 4th, 2020 at 6:16 pm
@mark2001,
JPP dumped Amukamara in a cold tub back when they were Giants. I think it was like hazing or JPP just didn’t like Amukamara, either way Amukamara didn’t like it either but he couldn’t do anything cuz JPP is a baaaad man and he was a rook or 2nd year guy.
Amukamara is not coming to the Bucs. LOL.
September 4th, 2020 at 6:21 pm
Bucs bout to sign Peyton Manning to play backup QB at this rate lol
September 4th, 2020 at 6:29 pm
He was about as effective against the Saints as RoJo was last year.
Fournette:
72 yards on 20 carries = 3.6ypc
46 yards on 6 catches = 7.7 ypc
Ronald Jones:
36 yards on 9 carries = 3.9ypc
21 yards on 2 catches = 10.5ypc
Just sayin.
I know, I know, we have far more weapons than Jax did last year.
I just hope using these last remaining dollars and a roster spot is going to be worth it, and not just more of what we already have. You look at those averages and it just screams that RoJo needed more touches. 9 carries for an entire game?
September 4th, 2020 at 6:37 pm
mark2001: I remember Prince getting thrown in an ice tub by JPP from their days playing with the Giants. I think JPP said it was because Prince needed to “toughen up”. Unless something changed along the way, I doubt JPP would give him a good reference. There’s video on YouTube of the incident.
September 4th, 2020 at 6:39 pm
lambchop: I didn’t see your post until after I posted. Agreed, unless Price toughened up after that.
September 4th, 2020 at 6:40 pm
unbelievable Says, “He was about as effective against the Saints as RoJo was last year.”
Difference is the Fournette had the box stacked against him more often than ROJO. Fournette is a great downhill bruiser and has great hands, while ROJO has shown to break a long one.
September 4th, 2020 at 6:43 pm
@unbelievable
and then game 2 against the Saints:
Ronald Jones:
13 yards on 4 carries = 3.2 ypc
1 yard on 2 catches = .5 ypc
Definitely where I want to put my Super Bowl hopes.
(kidding)
September 4th, 2020 at 6:44 pm
Say if Fournette isn’t ready to play on offense, might he return kicks in the first game against the Saints? I’m just throwing it out there, I don’t know if Fournette would excel at returning kicks, but it’d be a way for him to get on the field and make a play. I don’t know that the Bucs have any special returners on the roster at this time.
September 4th, 2020 at 6:44 pm
I got Fournette in the 13th round of my fantasy draft. Five of my 15 players are Bucs. This team is absolutely stacked offensively! I have always run away from drafting Bucs
Anything less than at least an NFC Championship Game appearance would be a massive disappointment. If we don’t win it all in 21-22, that’s a disappointment as well. Perhaps we win them both? I can’t wait for next Sunday!
September 4th, 2020 at 7:01 pm
Alvin Scissors Harper: I like your positivity! LFG!
September 4th, 2020 at 7:03 pm
Sounds like RoJo and Leonard are going to start a battle for RB1.
I expect RoJo to get the first snap. That first carry is important. So is that first for Fornette. Its gonna be a fun battle to watch.
September 4th, 2020 at 7:04 pm
Tom is the GOAT of reading defense. Fournette and Jones? No defense will be able to read Bucs offense on first and second down.
September 4th, 2020 at 7:14 pm
Hopefully there is a very short learning curve in putting together the Jambalaya juggernaut. In the words of the New Orleans Chef Justin Wilson, the famous Cajun celebrity “I Gawr-On-Tee” The Bucs are about to dominate, hopefully sooner than later. Everyone remembers the last time the Bucs started the season in Naw-lins. They beat the breaks off of the Saints in a track meet with Fitz. Well they can surely beat them with the G O A T. The Saints are not going to be able to run the football with any great success. The Saints will be 1 dimensional. On the other hand, the Bucs will run or throw. Advantage Bucs. If the Bucs protect the Ball, they are coming home 1-0 GO BUCS!!!!
September 4th, 2020 at 7:40 pm
He cannot sign until Sun because of Covid19 protocol.
September 4th, 2020 at 7:43 pm
Unbelievable…….Those numbers mean nothing. Nobody cares what those 2 did last year. Next week the only thing that matters is what they do in Game 1…..I’m betting for Rojo to make critical runs to start the game………and pick up the firstbbolck we need for passing. It will be fun to watch for.
Then let Fornette get in later and try to best RoJo……Then let Ronald come back against the Panthers in two weeks and beat Fournette for the lead role…………Let these 2 challenge each other and show us how great they are!!! The competition between those 2 will only bring us their best game and can be a huge part to seeing Buc victory!!
September 4th, 2020 at 7:51 pm
JimmyJack, probably not a whole lot of competition. Fournette is the guy.
September 4th, 2020 at 8:33 pm
It’s funny how everything that magically held Jameis from success is all of a sudden pressing needs to be filled…sabotage job at its finest.
September 4th, 2020 at 8:55 pm
I’m sporting.
September 4th, 2020 at 9:00 pm
That’s right. The entire Bucs organization got together and decided they would draft Winston and deprive him of all of the other pieces needed to win games just so they could sabotage him for 5 straight years. They were able to get Lovie and Koetter to buy into the plan. What a devious bunch. It worked to perfection. You nut huggers are as delusional as it gets.
September 4th, 2020 at 9:03 pm
It’s like being a kid a week before Christmas right now the season can’t get here fast enough. So pumped and ready for this year. The most excited I have been since the late 90s.
September 4th, 2020 at 9:18 pm
Bucsalltheway meet Ndog, Ndog .. Bucsalltheway.
Puhlease. 😂
September 4th, 2020 at 9:29 pm
The Bucs sabotaged Winston? So they draft a guy #1 overall, surround him with weapons, pick up his 5th year option and decide to sabotage him? If they wanted him gone he would have been released after the Uber incident. They certainly wouldn’t have picked up the 5th year option If they wanted him gone. And they could have benched him for good after the London debacle, no questions asked. Winston sabotaged himself with turnovers and erratic up and down play. It’s as simple as that. None of these players would have come here to play with the Bucs if Winston was still here, that I am sure of. No way we would have 5 prime time games, with more nationally televised games to boot, if #3 was still here. A chance to play with Brady, a chance at a championship, national exposure, that’s why we have all these additions. If you are a true Bucs fan, sit back and enjoy the ride.
September 4th, 2020 at 9:58 pm
Fournette is an average RB. His production came because they fed him endlessly, but he lacked elusiveness or efficiency. RoJo flashed toward the end of the season, and by all accounts he has improved his body and his game in the off-season. Fournette is going to spell RoJo and provide depth. Shady will mix in, especially on passing downs. But RoJo is going to get his chance, and I bet he will prove the haters wrong and PRODUCE.
September 4th, 2020 at 10:07 pm
bucsalltheway
😂
Yah. Like these guys would have come to tampa if brady wasnt here and jameis was. Thats hilarious
They have one different offensive lineman (tristan) who they would have drafted regardless
Gronk / shady / fournette would have gone to a contender
Gronk would have followed brady
Get a clue.
September 4th, 2020 at 10:33 pm
On a side note, did anyone see an article that said Lovie Smith’s son, Mikal Smith, was arresting on sex trafficking and prostitution charges today??
There’s some CRRRRRAZY stuff going on out there!!!!
September 4th, 2020 at 10:46 pm
NDog got a new name! Bucsalltheway is an idiot!
September 4th, 2020 at 11:01 pm
Also, Fournette will now be practicing against the best run defense in the NFL on a daily basis.
Remember if Rojo can get better, so can Fournette.
September 4th, 2020 at 11:14 pm
Tip for DFS players: when Bucs are the prime time game, play the 4th Qtr, and put Fournette as your Captain! The Optimist
September 5th, 2020 at 1:15 am
Bucs all the way and Ndog are both correct, it may not have been outright sabotage but it certainly was cluelessness and incompetence on te part of the organization- dips*it coaches and a GM who is obviously learning on the job- but’s JW didn’t receive that luxury because this GM always looked out for #1 first- his own preservation.
September 5th, 2020 at 1:17 am
Looking forward seeing Fournette’s QB protection in Bucs uniform. JAGS’s film is ugly. Whiffed on rush protection many times – maybe the film I am viewing was Rookie year. Dude is probably better now – especially effort to protect the GOAT.
September 5th, 2020 at 4:51 am
My guess is the Bucs are going to hold onto Brate, Shady and Dare to use as trading pieces when others go down in the league (or back up for the Bucs). Licht and Co will have to be creative with the new rules to squirrel away lesser known players in order to keep these three on the roster until needed to play or trade.
September 5th, 2020 at 5:00 am
I anticipate that Tums is going to make a killing in the NFC South this season!
September 5th, 2020 at 7:59 am
TDTB Says
FYI Dare cut
September 5th, 2020 at 8:57 am
If your definition of “preservation” is getting rid of someone that is mistake-prone and costing your team games, then I can agree with you.
September 5th, 2020 at 9:46 am
Clean House… bucsalltheway and NDog are “the same”.
September 5th, 2020 at 11:14 am
4th quarter
109 in the shade
Up 10 points
This guy will close it out
The other thing is now, if teams want to focus on the pass game…..
We run and run and run and run
Pick your poison
September 6th, 2020 at 11:50 am
Leonard Fournette is not a reeiving back. Don’t let those numbers fool you, he can’t run routes lol. Just took a bunch of dumpoffs.